England sees no need for further restrictions – for now

By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he hopes to “ride out” the pandemic without further restrictions, even as he warned that the country faces difficult days ahead as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives COVID-19 infections to record levels. Johnson told reporters in London on Tuesday that omicron is causing fewer serious illnesses than earlier variants and that together with the success of a nationwide vaccine booster program, the government believes existing controls are enough to protect the National Health Service without harming lives and livelihoods. He says the government continues to monitor the data and is prepared to respond if the situation changes.